FOREST GROVE, Ore. (KOIN) — A Forest Grove man said his service dog was hit and killed by a UPS truck speeding through his mobile home park.
Brian Lewis said the truck hit his chihuahua-corgi mix named Taz on Tuesday around noon in the Rose Grove Mobile Home Community. He said the truck was traveling too fast through an area where kids play when it struck Taz, sending the little dog flying.
“[The driver] didn’t even seem fazed by it,” said Lewis.
Lewis is a disabled Navy combat veteran who suffers from chronic vertigo. He got Taz nearly 4 years ago when Taz was just a puppy.
And Lewis was there for his beloved dog’s final moments.
“I watched his last breath and I said goodbye to him,” he said.
Lewis draped an American flag over Taz’s body, gave him a final salute and a special parting gift.
“I did take my dog tags off and put them on him,” said Lewis. “He can have a piece of me with him at all times.”
Lewis planned to have Taz cremated. He said he also wanted to preserve some of his ashes in a necklace.
UPS responded to KOIN 6’s request for comment, saying, “We are sorry for the owner’s loss. UPS is investigating this unfortunate incident and will take appropriate action.”
For Lewis, the experience is one he wouldn’t wish upon anyone.
“No one should go through this,” he said. “No one.”